Internal-combustion device for use with turbine-engines.



P. C. MULLIGAN. INTERNAL COMBUSTION DEVICE FOR USE WITH TURBINEENGINES.

APPLICATION HLED 11mm. I918.

1 ,267, 105. Patented May 21, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Elmuizmtoz muflzgazz.

P. C. MULLIGAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION DEVICE FOR USE WHH TURBINE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-26,1918.

1 ,267, 105. Patented May 21, 1918.

2 SHEEISSHEET 2- Pa Z1] cMizllz'gazz.

Cum-nun UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL C. HULLIGAN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ABSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIG, TO INTERNAL GOMIBUSTION STEAM ENGINE 00., OF SEATTLE, WASH- INGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION DEVICE FOR USE WITH TURBINE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application flied January 26, 1918. Serial No. 213,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL C. MULLIGAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Seattle, county of King, and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Internal- Combustion Devices for Use with Turbine- Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a prime mover of the type in which the power is derived through the combustion of a combustible charge within a closed chamber, that is to the type which is ordinarily referred to as an internal combustion motor. This device is of that type of internal combustion Inotor in which the combustible charge is burned within a chamber which is not itself the power developing chamber or cylinder, but which discharges the burned gases for use in an apparatus by which the power is developed.

My invention more specifically relates to an apparatus in which power is generated through the action of gases which are ignited within closed chambers and are then applied to a rotary motor, as a turbine.

The object of my invention is to produce a type of construction in which a turbine may be applied as the power generatin element and the gases which are applied t ereto may be produced in a combustion chamber which is separate from the turbine, these gases being applied to the turbine as a fluid under pressure in substantially the same manner as steam is used in a turbine.

The features of my invention, which I consider to be novel, will be described in connection with such other apparatus as are employed in connection therewith, and the features which I desire to cover by patent will then be defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in a manner which is largely diagrammatic, that is, the exact mechanical construction is not, in certain respects. altogether what might be em loyed in actual practice. butjt serves to well illustrate the principles involved and the manner of applying the same in order to carry out my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus with the essential parts thereofshown in section. v

Fig. 2 is a section on a larger scale of the combustion chamber and the parts which are directly connected therewith.

In the drawings 1 represents a turbine which, in its general features of construction, may be of any standard type. The rotor is mounted upon a shaft 10 which is mounted in suitable bearings upon a frame 11. I have shown the shaft 10 as provided with spiral pinions 12 which mesh with complemental spiral gears 13 upon a shaft 14. The object of this construction is merely to reduce the rotative speed of the turbine to a speed at which it is more practical to operate ordinary mechanisms. Any other suitable type of speed-reducing and power connection might be substituted for this. Also, the representation of the frame 11 as herein given is to be considered only as of a diagrammatic character, and this may be modified as desired to fit the conditions under which the apparatus is to be used.

The shaft 14 has secured to one end thereof, or in any suitable way connected therewith so as to turn in conformity therewith, cranks 15 which are connected in any suitable way, as by the use of connecting rods 16, with the piston rods 17 of pistons 18, contained in cylinders 19. These parts are employed as charge-compression pumps.

The charge for use in the combustion chamber 3 is supplied to these pumps through pipes 2 and valves 20, and, when compressed, it is discharged through valves 21 into pipes 22, by which it is conveyed to a storage and equalizing chamber 23. The construction of these parts which are employed for compressing the charge may be anything found suitable for this purpose. The construction illustrated is to be considered only as a diagrammatic representation of the essential elements which are to be used.

The compressed combustible material, which is contained within the tank or storage chamber 23, is delivered through a pi e, as 24, to the combustion chamber 3. T is combustion chamber has valves, as 30, which open inward and which therefore permit the combustible charge to enter this chamber whenever the pressure within the combustion chamber drops below that existing in the storage tank 23. Means are provided for igniting the charge when it reaches the combustion chamber. The means herein indicated consist of a spark plug 21. Any suitable means for ignition may, however, be employed.

The combustion chamber 3 is provided with a water jacket 32, which contains water employed to prevent excessive temperature in the walls of the combustion chamber. The water supply of this is delivered through a pipe 33, and the pressure of the water in this supply should be sufficient to enable discharge of the water from this cooling system into the ignited charge, when the discharge jets are opened. This pressure may be secured in any suitable manner, as for instance, by the use of a pump, or by connection with a city water supply, or any source of water supply under pressure. have not illustrated a means for securing this pressure, as it is not thought this is necessary and the manner of securing such pressure is a matter of common knowledge.

The pipe 34, which is connected with the water jacket at a point at a, distance in the circulation from the pipe 38 which supplies water to this system, is connected with a pipe 4 which extends through the combustion chamber and which is subjected to the heat of combustion of the charge. This pipe functions as a water heater acting also as a thermostat, varying the position of the water-valve seat relative to the water-valve operating-lever, as the pipe 4 expands and contracts.

At its lower end it terminates in a head 40, which is provided with discharge orifices 41. These orifices are preferably of small size and distributed about the periphery of the head and when opened will discharge water into the ases as they are discharged from the com ustion chamber 3.

The port or chamber 43, in which this water and the gases from the combustion chamber are combined, is provided with a valve 42, normally held seated by the action of a spring 44 upon the stem 45 of this valve. However, when the pressure at the side toward the combustion chamber 3, exceeds that u on the opposite side of the valve, the va ve will be opened and permit passing of the gases behind it.

A receiver 5 is connected with the gases through this valve and gases are drawn from this receiver to be applied to the motor, the latter being as herein shown, the rotor of the turbine 1. This receiver acts simply as an equalizing chamber between the combustion chamber and the rotor. This is desirable for the reason that the gases from the combustion chamber are discharged in impulses, while the motor should have a steady flow. The discharge passage from this receiver is controlled by a valve 51, operated by hand as required for production of ower, and the gases are applied to the high pressure end of the turine or rotor.

The chamber 43 which immediately receives the gases from the combustion chamber 3, is provided with another valve, 46, discharging into a passage 47, which directly connects with the low pressure portion of the turbine. This valve 46 differs from the valve 42 in this respect, that it opens in an opposite direction, or against t e pressure contained in the combustion chamber 3.

It is further normally held closed by a spring 49 and is mechanically opened through the action of a lever 48, which engages a tappet carried by the stem of the valve to lift the same in opposition to the action of the spring 49. This lever is actuated in any suitable manner from the movable parts of the motor. Such actuation is herein shown as secured through the means of an eccentric 28 acting through a rod 29.

The object of this direct connection from the combustion chamber to the rotor is to secure a certain measure of power from the burned gases remaining in the combustion chamber after the pressure therein has dropped to a oint wherein there is a balance between the pressure in the combustion chamber and in the receiver 5.

It is evident that the flow from the combustion chamber to this receiver 5, will continue only so long as the pressure in the combustion chamber exceeds that in the receiver. At about the time when this balance occurs, the apparatus for opening the valve 46 acts to open this valve, and thus ermit discharge of the remnants of the urned charge through the passage 47 and to apply the same to the low pressure portion of the turbine. In this way a useful efi'ect may be obtained from the remnants of the product of combustion which, by reason of their low pressure, cannot be discharged into the receiver 5.

The pipe 4 is secured in place through means which permits its adjustment lengthwise thereof with relation to the combustion chamber. The means herein shown consists of a gland which employs a sleeve 48 which has a threaded connection with the walls of a pocket in the head of the combustion chamber. The discharge orifices in the head 40 of this pipe are controlled by a valve 6 which opens inward. The stem of this valve extends to the outside and is then surrounded by a spring 61, which acts upon a plate 62 secured to te outer end of the stem,

so as to hold the valve 6 upon its seat and the discharge orifices 41 closed.

The valve 6 is opened mechanically through the action of mechanism controlled by the operation of the motor. This mechanism is intended to open the valve intermittently, once for each explosion of a charge in the combustion chamber 3. The timing of the openin of the valve '6 is intended to be such t at it occurs a short interval after the ignition of the charge. The position of the water discharge is such that it mixes directly with the products of combustion as the are discharged from the combustion cham r. In consequence of this, the temperature of this charge is somewhat reduced and superheated steam is added to the gases.

The contents of the tube 4 is Water, or a mixture of water and steam, the discharge through the orifices 41 coming in immediate contact with the highly heated gases, will be turned into steam and this steam will also become superheated. The contents of the receiver 5 will, therefore, be a mixture of the uses of combustion and steam.

T e mechanism by which the valve 6 is opened as herein shown, consists of a lever 63 which is pivoted at 64 upon an element of the frame and which is actuated by a link 65 from an eccentric or cam 66, carried by the shaft of the motor.

The pipe 4 is exposed to the intense heat of the burning charge. It, therefore, becomes highly heated. This pipe is support-ed at one end only, while the mechanism by which the valve is operated is unaffected by the temperature in the combustion chamber. The pipe 4 is further so mounted that it may have a slight longitudinal movement through the sleeve 48, by which it is secured in place in the head of the combustion chamber. This sleeve 48 is in reality, an element of a gland through which the pipe 4 extends. The actual support of the pipe is .by means of a threaded connection of the outer end thereof with a bar 7, which bar 7 is supported through rods 70, which in turn engage with the base 35 of the combustion chamber. In consequence, the support for the pipe 4 is not affected by the temperatures in the combustion chamber. In consequence, the pipe 4 is free to act as a thermostatic agent in the control of the extent of opening of the valve 6.

lVhen the pipe 4 becomes hi hly heated, as it will after having been su jected to a series of explosions in the chamber 3, it will expand. As the mechanism for opening the valve 6 has a definite period of travel, which in its extent and time of operation is not affected by the temperature in the combustion chamber, the valve 6 will be opened through a somewhat greater time period, which period will begin a little earlier, when the pipe 2 becomes thus hi hly heated. In consequence, a larger disc arge of water occurs through the orifices 41, when the pipe is highly heated than when this pipe is cold. In this manner a certain variation in the amount of water discharged into the gases after combustion occurs as the temperature rises.

The plan of discharging cooling water or vapor into the product of combustion, serves to transform a portion of the energy contained in these gases into another form, namely, superheated steam, and in this way the contents of the receiver 5 consists of a more permanent vapor and one which may be retained for a longer riod of time in the receiver, .without rapid loss of pressure, than would'be the case if the steam was not mixed therewith.

Further, the mixing of the steam therewith reduces the temperature and thus increases the life of the metal parts and thus avoids one of the serious ob ections to employing gases of combustion as a means for lproducing power in such a device as a turme. i

It is believed that further description of the apparatus and the method of employing the same is unnecessary, as the previous description fully sets forth the manner of operation of the device. It is desired to again call attention to the fact that the design of some of the parts as herein shown, in respect to features which are common practice, as for instance, the construction of the char e compressing pumps and of the frame 0 the engine, is not such as might be used in working apparatus, but the same are herein given only as diagrammatical and indicative of the type of apparatus to be employed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an internal combustion prime mover, in combination, a combustion chamber, means for supplying charges to and for igniting them in said chamber, means for intermittently supplying water to the discharge from said chamber, and means for thermostatically controlling the volume of said water discharge.

2. In an internal combustion prime mover, in combination, a combustion chamher having valve controlled inlet and outlet, means for supplying charges to and igniting them in said chamber, a water conducting pipe extending through said chamber and having orifices discharging into the outlet from said chamber, a valve controlling the discharge from said orifices, means for mechanically opening said valves at recurrent intervals, and means for thermostatically controlling the duration of said p 3. In an mternal combustlon prime mover, in combination, a combustion chamber having valve'controlled inlet and outlet, means for en plying charges to and igniting them in said chamber, a water conducting pipe supported at one end and extending through said chamber and having its other end at the discharge port.

4. In an internal combustion prime mover, in combination, a combustion chamber having valve controlled inlet and outlet, means for supplying charges to and igniting them in said chamber, a water conducting pipe extending through said chamber and having orifices discharging into the outlet from said chamber, a valve controlling the discharge from said orifices, a lever connected to actuate said valve and means for giving said lever a sibstantially uniform valve opening movt.

5. In an internal combustion prime mover, in combination, :a combustion chamber, means for c g and igniting the combustible mixture 1m said chamber, a receiver into which said combustion chamber discharges, a power generator device receiving the gases from said receiver and having high and low pressure sections and means for discharging the latter part of the exploded charges from the combustion chamber to the low pressure portion of the generator.

6. In an internal combustion motor, in combination, a combustion chamber, a receiver, a turbine generator having a supply connection from its high pressure side to the receiver, and a supply connection from its low pressure section to the combustion chamber, and means for controlling the opening of said latter connection in conformity with the periodicity of the charges burnt in the combustion chamber.

7. In an internal combustion motor, in combination, a combustion chamber, means for supplying a conbustible charge to and for igmtin it in said chamber, an inclosing water acket for said chamber, a water conducting pipe passing through said chamber receiving its supply from the water jacket and having openings for discharging steam and water into the products of combustion.

8. In an internal combustion motor, in combination, a combustion chamber, means for supplying a combustible charge to and for igniting it in said chamber, an inclosing water packet for said chamber, a water conducting pipe passing through said chamber receiving its supply from the water jacket and having openings for discharging water into the products of combustion, and means for controlling said discharge opening to produce an intermittent discharge timed to conform to the periodicity of the e! lesions in the combustion chamber.

ed at Seattle, Washington, this 19th day of January, 1918.

PAUL C. MULLIGAN. 

